Pump



June 24, 1941'.

0. M. DAVIS 2,246,577

PUMP

Filed Oct. 17, 1938 050/12 M DA W5 5 6a Patented June 24, 1941 UNITED STATS PATENT OFFICE PUZMP Oscar M. Davis, Houston, Tex.

Application October 17, 1938, Serial No. 235,405

Claims. (01. 103-52) This invention relates to a pump and has particular relation to that type of pump specially adapted for use in pumping fluid from deep wells such as oil wells containing gas under pressure.

An object of the invention is to provide a pump of the character described which may be located in a well and which will be automatically oper ated by the pressure of the gas in the well to eject oil or other liquid from the well.

It is another object of the invention to provide a pump of the character described which will utilize the gas, under pressure, in the well for the purpose of pumping a liquid from the well, which will conserve the gas and control the escape of the gas from the well so as to utilize, to the maximum extent, the gas, under pressure, as an operating fluid for discharging the liquid; from the well.

With the above and other objects in View the invention has particular relation to certain novel features of construction, operation and arrangement of parts, and to a novel method, an example of which is given in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein- Figure 1 shows a vertical, sectional view of a traveling valve mechanism employed.

Figure 2 shows a vertical, sectional view of the complete pump installed in the well tubing with the lower traveling valve mechanism shown in side elevation and the remainder of the pump shown in vertical section.

Figure 3 shows a vertical, sectional view of the pump showing the upper and lower traveling valve mechanisms shown in side elevation, the upper traveling valve mechanism being shown partly in section.

. Figure 4 shows a vertical, sectional view of the pump, the upper traveling Valve mechanism in side elevation, and the lower traveling valve mechanism being shown partly in section.

Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1, and

Figure 6 shows a fragmentary vertical sectional view of another modification.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing wherein like numerals of reference designate the same parts in each of the figures, the numeral I designates the well tubing which extends to the ground surface, the numerals 2 and 3 designate the upper and lower sections of the pump working barrel, said sections being connected by an inside coupling 4.

On the upper end of the working barrel of the pump there is an annular valve seat 5 which is clamped in place by the valve cage is which is screwed onto the upper end of the working barrel and which confines the upwardly opening ball valve '1 and which has the side outlet openings 8. The upper end of the cage has an outwardly threaded nipple 9 for the attachment of a rod thereto whereby the pump may be lowered to the desired location in the well.

In the illustration shown the lower end of the pump barrel has the plug I0 screwed in it and a suitable seal Ii is provided to form a fluid tight seal between the plug and the well tubing l. A tubular stem i2 works axially through the plug it! and the stuihng box I3 is contained in said plug around said stem.

Threaded onto the upper end of the stem. l2 there is a head l4 whose upper face is convex as shown, and this head is seated on a coil spring it which surrounds the stem l2 and which is supported on the plug it. On the lower end of the stem there is a stop it which engages against the plug H3 and limits the upward movement of the stem and the head 14 thereon.

Reciprocable in the working barrel are the upper and lower valve mechanisms of similar construction and shown in more accurate detail in Figure 1. Only one of these will be described in detail.

Each traveling valve mechanism embodies a traveling barrel ll having an annular valve seat It screwed into the upper end tlaereof Whose upper end is flared and a plurality of ducts l9 lead upwardly through said seat and terminate on the flared upper end thereof. Screwed into the lower end of each traveling barrel ii there is an annular valve seat 20 whose lower end is flared and surrounding this valve seat there is an upwardly opening cupring 2i formed of suitable sealing material which fits closely within the pump working barrel.

The upper portion of each traveling valve barrel I? is slightly reduced in external diameter so as to clear the walls of the working barrel but the lower portion of each barrel ll fits closely within the pump working barrel and is annularly grooved providing the external, annular, upwardly directed lips 22. The grooves between said lips are filled with oil thus forming a close seal between each barrel [1 and the pump working barrel.

Extended axially through each barrel ll there is a stem 23. Loosely mounted on each stem, above the seat [8, there is an annular valve 24 which is adapted to seat closely on the seat I8 and to close the ducts l9 when seated, and whose upper face is concaved.

Surrctmding each rod 23 and seated on the corresponding valve at there is a coil spring 25. This spring is confined between the valve 2 3 and a stop 26 above and which is fastened on the upper end of the corresponding stem 23. Each stem 23 extends beneath its corresponding barrel ii and has the upwardly tapering valve 27 screwed thereon whose lower end is formed with a concave recess 28.

Spaced above the stop 28 of the upper stem 23 and located beneath the seat is there is a cross-pin 29 forming a stop.

As illustrated in Figure 4 the lower traveling valve mechanism is in position to begin its upward stroke and the upper traveling valve mechanism is in position to begin its downward movement.

It is to be understood that the pump will be submerged the required distance into the liquid to be pumped from a well and the liquid, under pressure, will enter through the tubular stem [2' and will force the lower traveling valve mechanism upwardly lifting the lower valve 27 ofi the head i i and during this upward movement the valve 27 will close the corresponding seat 20. The operating fluid will engage in the recess 28 thus giving it a better lifting efiect. The entire lower traveling valve mechanism will thus move upwardly elevating the liquid in the working barrel 3 above it. The upper traveling valve mechanism at this time will be moving downwardly and will be open, as shown in Figure 2, that is, the valve 27 of the upper traveling mechanism will be in its lower position with its seat 26 open so that the liquid may pass upwardly through it and lift its valve 2 3 and pass on out past the valve 1.

The upper traveling valve mechanism will be limited in its downward movement by the coupling 4 against the upper end of which it will eventually engage. As the lower traveling valve mechanism moves on upwardly the head or stop 26 on the upper end of the stem 23 thereof will engage against the lower end of the valve 27 above, as shown in Figure 3, forcing said valve 21 upwardly into contact with the seat 23 above to close it and at the same time forcing the stem 23 of the lower traveling valve mechanism down to open the lower valve 27.

The operating fluid beneath will now elevate the upper traveling valve mechanism and the lower traveling valve mechanism will be free to descend. The upper traveling valve mechanism will continue to move upwardly until the stop or head 26 thereof engages the cross-pin 29, as shown in Figure 4, thus causing the valve 27 of said upper traveling valve mechanism to open and said upper traveling valve mechanism will now begin to descend. The lower traveling valve mechanism will in the meantime have reached its lower position, its valve 2? landing on the head hi beneath causing said valve 27 to close the lower valve seat 29 as shown in Figure 4 thus ending the cycle and the operation will be continuously repeated so long as there is sufiicient pressure in the well to discharge the well liquid.

The free and unrestrained escape of gas, under pressure, from the well will thus be prevented and said escape will be controlled and utilized to efficiently discharge the well liquid.

In Figure 6 another modification of the pump is illustrated wherein a single traveling valve assembly is employed. In this modification the pump working barrel 2a may be incorporated into the well tubing 39 and lowered into the well by end of the working barrel 2a is closed by the plug lea through which the tubular stem I2 works. Said stem has the head I l on the upper end thereof and the stop I 6 on the lower end thereof of the form illustrated in Figure 2, said head being supported on the coil spring i5. In this form, the single traveling valve assembly reciprocates up and down. As it moves downwardly through the liquid in the working barrel 2a, the valve 21 will be open and the valve 2d will lift to permit the liquid to pass above. When the traveling valve assembly reaches the limit of its downward movement the lower concaved end of the valve 21 will seat on the upper convex end of the head I l closing the passageway through the stem l2 and the barrel i! of the traveling valve will move on down until the seat 20 lands on the upper tapered end of the valve 27 thus closing the lower end of the traveling barrel ii. The accumulation of the pressure of the fluid beneath will now lift the traveling valve assembly, the valve 21'. being closed, preventing the escape of gas up through the column of liquid above and the valve 24 closing the passageway through the barrel I! thus lifting the column of liquid in the tubing above and discharging a portion thereof at the ground surface. This upward movement of the traveling valve assembly will continue until the stop 26 strikes the cross pin 29 whereupon the valve 27, at the lower end of the traveling barrel will be opened and the pressure fluid from beneath will be permitted to pass upwardly through the barrel El, the valve 26 opening or lifting to permit this and the traveling valve assembly will now be permitted to descend. Thereupon the standing valve 1 will close to trap the column of liquid in the tubing above and the traveling valve assembly will move freely on downwardly until it reaches the limit of its downward movement whereupon the valve 2'! will close preparatory to the beginning of another upstroke.

What I claim is:

1. A well pump adapted to be inserted in a well bore comprising a working barrel having an inlet at its lower end and a valve controlled outlet at its upper end, upper and lower traveling valve mechanisms in the working barrel adapted to be moved by pressure fluid of the well, each traveling valve mechanism including a barrel having upper and lower seats, a rod working axially through each upper and lower bar-rel, a valve fixed on the lower end of each rod and a valve slidable on the upper end of each rod, said valves being arranged to close said lower and upper seats as the corresponding traveling valve mechanism reciprocates in the working barrel.

2. A well pump comprising a working barrel having an inlet at its lower end and a valve controlled outlet at its upper end, independent traveling valve mechanisms including valve means said mechanism being reciprocable in the working barrel and the valve means being adapted to close to advance a column of fluid upwardly through the working barrel upon upward movement of a traveling valve mechanism in the Working barrel,

said means being arranged to open at the limit said tubing to the desired location. The lower of the upstroke of the corresponding traveling valve mechanism to permit said mechanism to move downwardly.

3. A well pump comprising a working barrel having an inlet at its lower end and a valve controlled outlet at its upper end, independent traveling valve mechanisms including valve means said mechanism being reciprocable in the working barrel and the valve means being adapted to close to advance a column of fluid upwardly through the working barrel upon upward movement of a traveling valve mechanism in the working barrel, said means being arranged to open at the limit of the upstroke of the corresponding traveling valve mechanism to permit said mechanism to move downwardly and means at the lower end of the lower traveling valve mechanism for closing said inlet when the lower traveling valve ,nechanism reaches the limit of its downward movement.

4. A well pump adapted to be inserted in a well bore comprising a working barrel having an inlet at its lower end and a valve controlled outlet at its upper end, upper and lower traveling barrels reciprocable in the working barrel and adapted to be actuated by pressure fluid of the well, an upwardly closing valve associated with each traveling barrel and adapted, upon upward movement, to close said traveling barrel.

5. A well pump adapted to be inserted in a well bore comprising a working barrel having an inlet at its lower end and a valve controlled outlet at its upper end, upper and lower traveling barrels reciprocable in the working barrel and adapted to be actuated by pressure fluid of the well, an upwardly closing valve associated with each traveling barrel and adapted, upon upward movement, to close said traveling barrel and an upward opening valve controlling the upper end of each traveling barrel.

6. A pump comprising a working barrel having an inlet at its lower end and a valve controlled outlet at its upper end, a traveling valve assembly in the working barrel and comprising a freely movable traveling barrel having upper and lower seats, a stem reciprocable axially through and suitably supported by the traveling barrel, a lower valve fixed on the stem adapted to close the lower seat upon upward movement of the stem, an upwardly opening valve on the stem adapted to close the upper seat upon upward movement of the traveling valve assembly.

7. A well pump adapted to be inserted in a well bore comprising a working barrel having an inlet at its lower end and an outlet at its upper end, a downwardly closing valve controlling said outlet to prevent back flow of the column of liquid above, a'traveling valve assembly in the working barrel adapted to be moved upwardly by pressure fluid of the well acting thereon and comprising a traveling barrel having upper and lower seats, a lower valve associated with the traveling barrel and adapted to close the lower seat as the assembly moves upwardly in the working barrel, an upwardly opening valve associated with the traveling barrel adapted to close the upper seat upon upward movement of said assembly, the valves of said assembly being arranged to open upon downward movement of the assembly.

8. A fluid lift well pump adapted to be inserted in a well bore comprising a working barrel having a plurality of plungers therein adapted to be moved by the high pressure fluid of the well, said plungers having passages therethrough, valves controlling said passages, means for alternately opening and closing said valves whereby the plungers will be reciprocated, said alternate opening and closing thereby maintaining the working barrel closed to a continuous uninterrupted flow of said well fluid through said working barrel.

9. In a fluid lift pump, a travelling piston adapted to be moved by high pressure fluid of the well comprising a tubular barrel, annular upper and lower valve seats connected to the upper and lower ends of the barrel respectively, a valve stem being freely movable with and reciprocable in and suitably supported by the barrel and slightly longer than the length of the barrel, a valve connected to the lower end of the stem and adapted to cooperate with said lower valve seat to close the lower end of the barrel, an upper valve reciprocably mounted on the upper end of the stem and external to the barrel and adapted to cooperate with said upper valve seat to close the upper end of the barrel, a stop abutment on the upper end of the stem, a spring positioned on the stem between the abutment and the upper valve, the relative lengths of the stem, barrel and spring being such that when one valve is contacting its seat, the other valve may be in spaced relation with the seat.

10. A fluid lift pump comprising a working barrel having an inlet at its lower end and an upwardly opening check valve at its upper end, upper and lower independent travelling valve mechanisms, each comprising a tubular barrel, annular upper and lower valve seats connected to the upper and lower ends of the tubular barrel respectively, a valve stem being freely movable with and reciprocable in and suitably supported by the tubular barrel, and slightly longer than the length of said tubular barrel, a lower valve connected to the lower end of the stem and adapted to cooperate with said lower valve seat to close the lower end of the tubular barrel, an upper valve reciprocably mounted on the upper end of the stem, external to the tubular barrel and adapted to cooperate with said upper valve seat to close the upper end of the tubular barrel, a stop abutment on the upper end of the stem, a spring positioned on the stem between the abutment and the upper valve, the relative lengths of the stem, barrel and. spring being such that when one valve is contacting its seat, the other valve may be in spaced relation with its seat, a spacer in the barrel adapted to limit the movement of the travelling valve mechanisms in the working barrel, stem stops located in the working barrel, one at the upper end and one at the lower end adapted to contact the stems of the upper and lower travelling valve mechanism, respectively, whereby upon upward movement of the upper travelling valve mechanism to the upper working barrel stop, the lower valve of said upper traveling valve mechanism is open and upon, downward movement of the lower traveling valve mechanism, to the lower working barrel stop, the lower valve of the lower traveling valve mechanism, is closed, the stems further being adapted to contact and actuate their respective valves when both traveling valve mechanisms are adjacent said spacer.

OSCAR M. DAVIS. 

